Windows 7: Repair Install

Yeah I dunno why those links would be taken down given how important Repair Install turns out to be, as I've learned only by reading (and trusting) your tutorial!

I'm planning to repair install my W7 Home Premium 32bit.
As far as i know, I have only one account on my PC. In Control Panel > User Accounts there is only one account,
ie [Account Name] Administrator.

My first question is,how to "Start Windows 7, and log on to an administrator account" ? (It is item #1 in tutorial).
Do I need to set up (activate) an administrator account, or whatever else?

Thank you. Your tutorial is very well done.

Hello Doublem, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You would just need to log on to Windows with your current administrator account to get started. :)

Thanks for the prompt rely, Brink.

Nice. I was worried and read lots of stuff regarding administrator account.

You're most welcome Doublem. If you have any other questions, then please feel free to ask. :)

I already downloaded and extracted to the separate disk partition the Win7 Home Premium 32 Media-Refresh (SP1-U) for the new installation. Hopefully, this is OK, isn't it.

You should be good to go to do the rest of step 4 to get started then. :)

The site linked-to under Warnings in the first post, for downloading the needed .isos, explains now that the links are likely dead for good and the only way to obtain iso files is at the Download Center with Retail Product Keys, and that OEM product keys don't work and you will need to buy a disc from MS.

Thankfully I had DL'ed the iso for my W7HPx64 machines, all OEM, and that leaves a new Dell that I just bought with W7Pro which would also be an OEM key. Guess I will hope this PC never needs this process!! I don't understand why MS would make this so hard...

What is the best/recommended way to ensure availability of the Device Drivers after the installation?

I have backed up my drivers with the Driver Reviver. They are currently stored on drive C (where Windows is installed) under the Program Data folder. I know that Driver Reviver can restore the drivers automatically, but I'm not sure if the program will be available after the installation.

Doublem,

I find that the most reliable way to back up your drivers is to download the driver installation files from the device/PC manufacturer, and save them to another location. This way they will be available after the Windows installation has finished to install them.